A normal day at Brennenburg
1
There was a knock on the door.
"Baron?" a female voice asked. It belonged to a 20 year old woman, who lived at Brennenburg along with some of the servants. She was the baron's apprentice.
"Yes?"
"May I come in?" the woman asked.
The baron looked up from the book he was reading. "You may come in," he answered.
The woman opened the door and entered the study. She met the Baron's bright golden eyes.
The baron nodded.
The woman bowed. "I see you were reading."
"Indeed." The baron turned to his book again. "What do you need?"
"I was wondering when we would continue our work," the woman said.
"We will soon. I will send someone for you when we start. For now, you are free to walk the castle on your own behalf." The baron closed the book. "Make sure to check on Daniel when you pass his room."
The woman bowed again. The baron stood up and walked past her.
"Alexander?"
The baron stopped in the middle of the motion. "Yes?"
"Will you take me with you through the gate when the time comes?"
Alexander looked at his apprentice for a long time. Something in the woman's eyes had changed. She looked older all of a sudden. She had seen, done and endured things other people her age hadn't. Even when Alexander walked back up to her and closed his hand around her neck to choke her, the expression in her eyes didn't change.
"You may hurt me if you want. It won't change my mind."
The words surprised Alexander. The woman's voice didn't shake as she spoke, even though his hands were closed tightly around her neck now. There was no fear in her. Only indifference. She didn't care if she was hurt or not.
Alexander released her again. "I will take you," he said.
The woman smiled. It was a creepy smile. Almost triumphant.
"There's one condition," Alexander spoke. "You will have to serve me. And continue my study when we're back… home."
"I will."
Alexander knew his apprentice meant it. "Good." He walked out of the room and left the door open.
The apprentice followed.
Daniel woke and had a feeling that he had been watched the whole time. But there was no one in the room and the door was shut tight. He could hear Alexander and the voice of a young woman in front of the door though. They were whispering.
He stood up and opened the door to his room. "Alexander? Is there something wrong?"
They both turned and looked at him. The young woman was tall and her brown hair flowing over her shoulders. He knew she was Alexander's apprentice. He didn't know what she was studying at Brennenburg, but it wasn't of his business. Alexander had told him that much. The woman was special. She could keep the shadow at bay with them if he asked her to.
Daniel didn't know how a woman that young could be of any help to them. But he trusted Alexander's judgment.
"You were having nightmares again, Daniel?" The baron asked.
Daniel glanced at the woman. Her eyes were a weird color, not really blue, not really green, something in between. They were cold, like Alexander's so often. But unlike Alexander's they weren't showing any kindness.
"Yes," Daniel answered. "It was about the shadow again."
"Mary."
It was the first time Daniel heard Alexander address his apprentice with her name.
The woman turned and left.
"Now Daniel, come. And tell me about your dream. We're alone."
Daniel didn't know that the baron's apprentice would hear every word of it in the end anyway.
Mary was hurrying downstairs to the dungeon and sat down on a chair at the end of the hall with 3 cells. The prisoners were moaning in agony.
Most of the candles down here were lit. One of Alexander's servants was patrolling the halls. He was a strange guy with a totally deformed face. His lower jaw and lip were distorted and showed his teeth. He was wearing a cloak to conceal his hideous figure and face. He couldn't speak. The only noises he could make were grunts and screams. But Alexander had taught her how to communicate with them. As disturbing as it was, you had to look at them and you would hear their voice in your head. They would answer you. You could hear the voice of a man. The voice he had owned before he had drunken the poisoned wine.
Alexander had told her about the soldiers in the wine cellar. Had told her how he made them into these monsters.
The servant passed her chair again.
"Wilhelm."
He turned. The cloak was hiding his face. She couldn't see it.
"I cannot hear you," Mary said.
The servant called Wilhelm made a noise that sounded like a sob. His shoulders were quivering. He removed the hood of his cloak from his head.
Mary found herself staring into the deformed man's eyes. She didn't like to call the Gatherers' monsters. They were still human to her. Only terribly distorted and deformed.
Wilhelm's black eyes stared back at her. She heard him say, I do not want you to have to look at me. I am a monster now.
Mary smiled at him. "You aren't to me. You're still serving the baron like you should." She rose from the chair. "Have a seat Wilhelm," she offered. "I will patrol for you for a while. It must be tiring to walk in circles all day."
Wilhelm smiled back at her, as far as you could see the smile on his morbid features. Well yeah you know I was getting dizzy already! Thank you! Mary had gotten quite good at reading the Gatherers' faces for the time she had been here. This one was an insider. It was a joke they pulled all the time.
They both looked at each other for another moment and then started to laugh. Mary heard Wilhelm's deep happy laughter in her head along with the horrifying sounds that came out of his deformed mouth.
All the time Mary came down to visit him or take over the patrol around the dungeon she made him forget that he couldn't speak, that he had a hideous face and was a monster to everyone else. She made him feel normal again.
When he was with the other servants… The soldiers they all had once been, it was different, because they were all like him. They were men he had been working together with back when they all were still 'human.' They all looked hideous like him. They all knew how they only could communicate with each other telepathically… Mary was, besides the baron who had made them this, the only normal person he knew. Or maybe… that made her strange too.
Daniel never seemed to be bothered by the servants, though Mary knew he definitely would be if he had ever seen their faces. They were always shrouding themselves in their cloaks to keep themselves concealed from glances.
Mary was on her 3rd round through the dungeon when Alexander personally went downstairs to get her. He was talking to Wilhelm as she came back.
"We heard your laughter upstairs. What Daniel heard however, was your laughter Mary. And," He pointed at Wilhelm. "his grunting." The baron scolded Mary. "He thought you were torturing prisoners. He wanted to go down here to make sure you're alright…"
"And you told him to stay upstairs and said you were going to check on me so I wouldn't get hurt?"
Alexander snorted. "Indeed. He's stubborn."
Mary shook her head. She turned to Wilhelm. "I will see you around. I have to go upstairs again before Daniel goes insane." She laughed again.
See you around, Wilhelm answered. He went on patrolling the dungeon.
Daniel's green worried eyes awaited Mary upstairs. They were searching for traces of blood or a wound.
"I was perfectly fine down there, thank you," Mary grumbled.
"Are you sure?" Daniel took a step forward. "I was worried."
"Didn't Alexander tell you I would be fine?" Mary asked in a cold voice.
"He did, but…"
"You are better not to question his words," her tone was threatening.
Even though she was so much younger than Daniel something about Alexander's apprentice made her appear so much older than she was. Daniel kept silent. He didn't know why he didn't speak.
"We should get back to work," Alexander said. His eyes lit up excited for more torture.
They finished as the sun began to disappear on the horizon. Daniel slipped down on the wall of the dungeon, the screams of the prisoner still ringing in his ears as they had begun to saw him into half. The man had been hung upside down and the blood ran down his body in rivers leaving a puddle on the cold stone floor.
Alexander called for his apprentice to clean the blood up.
"You're letting her clean our mess up?" Daniel asked.
Alexander smirked. "Of course. There's no need for us to do it. We got our hands dirty enough for today." He paused. Then continued, "Besides there's someone down here she wanted to see again…"
Mary was squatting on the stone floor with a bucket of water and a wet cloth, scrubbing the blood away. She glanced at Alexander, her expression blank for but a slight distant smile.
"Oh?" Daniel was surprised. He thought of Mary as emotionless and cold and cruel. He didn't know she could be any different and was in fact, a very loving person, that she felt affection for at least some people at Brennenburg. "So who would that be?"
Daniel noticed Alexander giving her a strange look. It was as if his eyes warned her not to spill the truth.
Mary shook her head and Alexander took a step towards her. It was as if they were talking just by looking into the other's eyes.
"It's one of the servants!" Mary's voice was confident and clear.
Daniel grinned, thinking he knew what Mary meant. "Is that so? Well that's… interesting."
The baron stared at Daniel in disbelieve. He broke into laughter.
"What?" Daniel was confused. "I don't understand. What's so funny?"
Alexander grew serious again. His voice was just a whisper. "It is not what you think, my dear friend." He explained, "Mary is taking care of one of the former soldiers who had been serving me for years. He was hurt in an accident. Mary makes sure he has someone to talk to when he patrols the dungeon."
"Oh," Daniel seemed embarrassed. "That was not what I was-,"
"We know full well what you were thinking of, Daniel," Mary spoke, dead calm. "It's not very nice to make suggestions like that…" Her voice was dangerous and low now.
"Forgive me," Daniel apologized. "It won't happen again."
"Very well." Mary turned and left the prison cell, taking the bucket of water and the cloth with her.
Daniel stared after her when she left the cell. He turned to Alexander. "Did I upset her? That wasn't my intention…"
"You must forgive her as well. She has been through a lot…"
"Oh, I see." Daniel gazed at the prisoner that was still hanging from the ceiling. "Is that the reason why she's so cold all the time?"
Alexander sighed, "It is one of the reasons. But you must understand. You are a stranger to her. She's been living at Brennenburg all her life. She knows every corner of the castle. She appreciates everyone who's working here and playing their part… and you. You see, you're like an intruder to her. She sees that I am offering you my help to protect you from the shadow… and to her… as harsh as that might sound, you should be helping me."
"You said she has been living at Brennenburg all her life… Was she born here?"
Alexander thought for a long moment and then said, "Why don't we continue this conversation in the parlor?"
Daniel nodded and they left the dungeon.
On their way upstairs Daniel saw Mary hurrying back downstairs to the dungeon. She seemed relaxed, almost happy to be walking around alone without him there.
He noticed that her over-knee, long-sleeved, red dress had a large oval brown patch over each of her elbows. He wondered if they were for decoration, or if the dress had actually been torn and fixed. The color of the patches matched her high leather boots and in addition she wore black tights.
She had felt Daniel's gaze on her back, which brought him a derogative look.
'She really hates me, doesn't she?' Daniel thought.
Mary sneered at him.
'Did she hear my thoughts?' Daniel glanced at Alexander who said, "Mary is very good when it comes to reading faces…"
"Ah." He looked back to where Mary stood… but she was gone.
"Come!" Alexander's voice called. And he hurried to catch up with him.
The parlor was an enormous room with a furnace and a long dining table in the back. Alexander and Daniel were sitting in front of the furnace that was lit. The fire was giving off a comforting warmth as they watched the sun go down further. On the small round table sat two cups of tea. The armchairs were cushioned with a beautiful red padding. They were comfy to sit on.
"So you said your apprentice has been living at Brennenburg all her life?" Daniel asked again.
"Yes." The baron looked at Daniel, his eyes warmer than usual. "Mary has been born in Brennenburg, I didn't know about her until she was 4 years old." He paused, remembering what had happened back then. "Two of my servants had become very fond of each other, Daniel. I hadn't imagined that they would go this far. They had been hiding her for years, sneaking off with food for her. They had hid her in the Cellar Archives. One of the servants found out and reported to me. When I got down there, her parents had been alerted. They were begging me to let her live. I had made myself very clear that if any incidents should ever happen the punishment would be their child taken away from them. However they begged me to punish them instead and let their child live at Brennenburg…" Alexander looked out of the window. He looked old and tired for once. "I do not know what drove me to hear their pleading, but… I did. I punished them and let Mary live here. She became my apprentice."
Daniel's eyes widened. "What did you do to them?"
Alexander sighed, "I banned them from Brennenburg and the lands. If they should ever show themselves near Brennenburg or Altstadt they would be shot."
"Does Mary remember her parents?"
"She doesn't." Alexander looked at Daniel again. "I allowed them to write her letters. I told her who they were but she cannot really relate to them. Though she always writes back and she is very polite, thanking her parents, especially her mother, for giving birth to her and thanking them that they took the punishment so she could live here."
"Where do her parents reside now?" Daniel asked.
"The last letter was from London, Daniel."
"Really?" he was surprised. "So that's why she speaks English?"
"Not exactly…" The baron smiled. "She was raised by her parents speaking German. I taught her to speak English."
"So she does speak both?"
"Indeed. It can be very useful if you need help with any of the books in the study. I would dare to say she sometimes does know more than I do. I think she read all of the books at least once, if not twice."
The conversation went on long after the sun had disappeared behind the horizon completely.
Mary had been down in the dungeon for a while before she went back upstairs with Wilhelm to accompany him to his room. Another servant had taken on his shift in the dungeons for the night like always.
"Good night, Wilhelm."
'Good night, Mary.' Wilhelm bowed.
Mary smiled and left. She had walked around Brennenburg in darkness. Her footsteps made no noise. She had learned to walk as quiet as a shadow. She wasn't heard or seen by anyone.
She loved walking around Brennenburg at night. The castle was quiet and peaceful and even though the torches were casting eerie shadows on the walls, it wasn't disturbing. She was used to being in the dark. Even as a kid it had never bothered her. But she hated the cold and the torches were giving off heat that kept the long hallways warm.
Mary felt the tinderbox in the pocket of her dress. She had taken one from her room with her, just in case she needed it. She was on her way to the study.
Alexander had a variety of books. Mary loved all the old story books he owned as well as the autobiographies. She would take one to the parlor with her and read.
Hoping there wasn't anyone in the study at this time of the night she carefully opened the door and peeked inside. It was empty.
Relieved, Mary picked up her favorite book and made her way to the parlor. She noticed that all the candles in the hall were still lit. She was about to open the door when she heard Daniel's voice ask Alexander, "So this is why she speaks both?"
She heard Alexander answer. Her hand was still on the door handle.
'Why is he telling him about my past? Did he want to know?' Mary asked herself.
She considered leaving and coming back later when they were done talking. She had already withdrawn her hand from the door handle just to set it down on the hard wooden door three times.
Daniel gasped for air inside and she chuckled. 'Such a scaredy cat,' she thought.
"Wait here, Daniel," it was Alexander's voice. A second later the door opened and he stepped outside.
Mary bowed.
Alexander's gaze fell on the book she was holding in her arms. "Did you take that from the study?" he asked, almost annoyed.
"Yes baron." She paused, then went on. "Have you ever found a book from the study missing? I always bring them back."
Alexander sighed. He saw Mary's eyes screaming the question she didn't speak out.
'Why did you tell him? Him of all people?'
"He asked, Mary." Alexander's voice was cool.
"And why would he do that?"
Instead of getting an answer Alexander answered her with a question. "Is it wrong to show interest in the history of another person? You know everything about him, while he knows almost nothing about you. It is only fair…" His eyes became intense. "Are you afraid he could hurt you if he knows more about you?"
Mary thought for a second. Her gaze never left Alexander's eyes. "I am not," she said. "I just don't like speaking of my past…" Alexander saw her eyes grow cold as she stated, "Same as you."
Alexander's blow made her tumble back. Her cheek was bright red. She continued to stare into his eyes.
"How dare you?" his voice was dangerously low.
Mary held her pounding cheek but smiled at him. She had made her point.
"Forgive me," Mary's voice was quiet now. "But it's the truth…" She looked away.
Alexander said nothing. He opened the door of the parlor again and gestured her inside.
She sat down on an armchair between both of them and for a tense moment none of them spoke. The room was quiet and only the crackling of the fire was heard.
Daniel cleared his throat. "What are you reading Mary?" he asked.
"Grimm's Fairy Tales," she simply replied and opened the book.
Alexander seemed amused. "Now, Daniel. You were asking me about her, just before she popped up, what a coincidence. Feel free to ask her anything you want to know, herself." His tone became warning and it was directed at Mary. "I'm sure she'll gladly answer anything you ask."
Daniel seemed ashamed. He was uncomfortable with the whole situation. "Uhm, so Alexander told me that you were born here and that your parents were banned from the lands..."
"Correct."
Daniel tried to find at least something to talk with her about that didn't concern her personal past and privacy. "Have you read any books about archeology? Has Alexander told you why it is I am here?"
"Of course the baron told me why you're here." Mary rolled her eyes as if she couldn't believe he was really asking that question. "And yes, I have read quite a few books on archeology." She knew what Daniel was going to ask. She prevented him from it. "There wasn't anything on that Orb of yours."
"Oh..." Daniel seemed disappointed.
"I don't know what you expect," Mary stated. "Isn't that the point of digging stuff up? To find something that hasn't already been written about? To study and learn about it?"
"Yes, but..."
Mary sighed. She was visibly bored at the whole conversation. "Daniel. I don't want to be rude or anything. But I'd love to finish my book before I go to sleep. I'm sure Alexander would love to continue that conversation with you."
Daniel shook his head. "Very well, then I will no longer keep you from your book." He turned to Alexander.
Before Daniel could speak, his vision blurred and a shadow flickered across it. The edges had darkened and he felt like he was being pulled into the ground. His fingers dug into the cushion of the armchair. The cry of the shadow chasing him echoed in his mind. Drew nearer.
"It's drawing closer," Daniel breathed, terrorized. He didn't notice that sweat was running down his face. "It's coming for me. I can hear it cry out inside my head."
"Ease my friend," Alexander said. "Your mind is playing games with you. There's nothing to worry about. Today's warding ritual slowed it down immensely."
"But-!"
"No, Daniel. Trust Alexander's judgment." Mary stood up from her seat and put the book down upside down. "Shall I get you some of the tonic to calm your nerves?"
"Yes, yes. That would be great, thank you." Daniel seemed relieved that Mary hadn't snapped at him and instead showed some pity on his broken nerves.